Endocannabinoids protect cerebral cortical neurons from in vitro ischemia in rats

Neurosci Lett. 2000 Jan 14;278(3):157-60. doi: 10.1016/s0304-3940(99)00922-2.

Abstract

The endogenous cannabinoids (endocannabinoids) anandamide and 2-arachidonylglycerol increased cell viability in cerebral cortical neuron cultures subjected to 8 h of hypoxia and glucose deprivation. This effect was observed at nanomolar concentrations, was reproduced by a non-hydrolyzable analog of anandamide, and was unaltered by CB1 or CB2 cannabinoid receptor antagonists. Like synthetic cannabinoids, endocannabinoids can protect neurons from hypoxic injury, and may represent endogenous neuroprotective molecules in cerebral ischemia.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Arachidonic Acids / pharmacology
  • Brain Ischemia / pathology*
  • Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators
  • Cannabinoids / metabolism*
  • Cell Hypoxia / physiology
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cerebral Cortex / pathology*
  • Dizocilpine Maleate / pharmacology
  • Endocannabinoids
  • Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / pharmacology
  • Glycerides / pharmacology
  • Neurons / pathology*
  • Neuroprotective Agents / metabolism*
  • Neuroprotective Agents / pharmacology
  • Polyunsaturated Alkamides
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Substances

  • Arachidonic Acids
  • Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators
  • Cannabinoids
  • Endocannabinoids
  • Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists
  • Glycerides
  • Neuroprotective Agents
  • Polyunsaturated Alkamides
  • methanandamide
  • Dizocilpine Maleate
  • glyceryl 2-arachidonate
  • anandamide